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Synthesis: What is maturity?

This synthesis is understandable only if the preceding questions have already been studied.

Cognitive maturity

Ability to behave well within a constructive group. Individuals tend to fall at an intermediate level between the extremes described in the following table.

Level of cognitive maturity ₁

Objective

Natural mode of action

Relationship to facts

Capacity to practice problem-solving

Long-term effect produced by cognitive dissonance ₈

Pathological ₁

Social ambition ₂
Individual happiness ₃

Generalized nepotism ₂
Pretending ₄

Rhetoric takes precedence ₆

Incapable ₁

Beliefs
Self-deception ₈

Immature ₁

If assisted ₁

Mature ₁

Collective happiness ₃

Problem-solving ₅
Sincerity

Respectful of facts ₇

Natural, informal ₁

Wisdom

Emotional maturity

Ability to manage one's own omnipotence as well as aggression from others. Again, individuals tend to fall at an intermediate level.

Level of emotional maturity

Behavior toward rules and social conventions

Child

Only respects social rules within the limit of 'if not seen, not taken.'

Adolescent

Spontaneously respects social rules... even when they clearly contradict facts and morality.

Adult ₉

Morality and facts take precedence over social rules and conventions.
Able to confront the group when it denies facts.

 

Questions to refer to for better understanding of the two tables above:

₁ Tell me how you make decisions, and I will tell you who you are

₂ What are the consequences of social ambition? The notion of generalized nepotism.

₃ What is the purpose of life?

₄ What is difficult to overcome to succeed in life?

₅ What conditions must be met to produce serious reasoning? Problem-solving.

₆ Why do humans reason so massively incorrectly?

₇ What must one do to be a good person?

₈ What is cognitive dissonance?

₉ What is an adult?

 

The method proposed for progressing in terms of maturity is described in question 'How to succeed in life?'